Sunday April 28, 2024 Chandi Deitmer

Theme:  "Obviously!" - Each common phrase is clued as if IT does not exist.

23A Poorly put together trays?: CRUDITE PLATTERS.

39A. Donkeys who got caught in the rain?: WET BURRITOS.

51A. Pews?: PRIORITY SEATING.

83A. Khaki work uniform?: TITAN OF INDUSTRY.

92A. Request from one who prefers dry mashed potatoes?: ZERO GRAVITY.

115A. Energy supplies that are just OK?: FINITE RESOURCES.

Reveal:

65. "We all see the obvious here, right?," and how to make six long answers in this puzzle match their clues?: IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING.

Sometimes we have themes where letter or letter string appear in the theme entries but ignored in the clues. We could just have wacky theme answers instead. But today is a good example of why the letter should be included. Perfect reveal and rationale.

Got this picture of when I googled Chandi. She's lower left. Looks who's on upper right? Patti!

Across: 

1. Luminescent gems: OPALS.

6. Fish head?: CRAW. OK, Crawfish.

10. "Who Let the Dogs Out" group __ Men: BAHA. The only Baha Men song I know.

14. Act extempore: AD LIB.

19. Lear daughter: REGAN. Have to mention our local girl Regan Smith.

20. Breakfast scramble: HASH.

21. Some deleted contacts: EXES.

22. Enlightenment philosopher Thomas: PAINE.

26. Mary-in-mourning piece: PIETA.

27. Marshmallow Man in "Ghostbusters": STAY-PUFT. Learning moment for me.

28. Capital of Tibet: LHASA.

29. Literary whaler: PEQUOD. "Moby-Dick".

30. Start and end of a faceoff?: EFS. Letter F.

31. __ of strength: FEAT.

32. Boyfriend: BEAU.

33. Rap's Snoop __: DOGG.

37. God destined to slay the sea serpent Jörmungandr: THOR.

45. "Snowy" bird: EGRET.

47. Ice rink leap: AXEL.

49. Self-satisfied: SMUG.

50. Bankrupt: RUIN. Verb "bankrupt".

54. Sacred text: BIBLE.

55. Bob in the Basketball Hall of Fame: PETTIT. No idea. Wikipedia says he's NBA's first MVP.

56. Dutch painter Frans: HALS.

57. Pat Benatar's "Love __ Battlefield": IS A.

59. Historic space station: MIR.

60. Stern direction?: AFT. Stern of a boat.

61. Stinging insect: WASP.

62. Dorky one: DWEEB.

64. Picnic pest: ANT.

70. Citrusy suffix: ADE.

71. Piccata bud: CAPER. Lots of buds.

72. Marine mammal in a matrilineal group: ORCA.

73. Anti-fraud org.: BBB.

74. Bear's lair: DEN.

75. Reddit forum for inquiries: AMA. Ask Me Anything.

76. Early educ.: PRE-K.

77. Potent potion: ELIXIR.

81. Purple or green herb: BASIL. Never had purple basil. Cilantro is the only herb used in Chinese cooking.

88. Checkout unit: ITEM.

89. Waffle __: IRON.

90. Identical: SAME.

91. Spine-chilling: EERIE.

96. 95-Down beds, maybe: COTS. 95. Steppes tent: YURT.

98. Talk back to: SASS.

99. Yule tune: NOEL.

100. "No problem!": SURE.

102. Spy org.: CIA.

104. Surreptitious one: SLY FOX.

107. French composer Gabriel: FAURE. Another learning moment.

109. Former police procedural starring Kathryn Morris: COLD CASE.

114. Jazz great Armstrong: LOUIS.

117. "You mean a lot to me": I CARE.

118. "This __ fair": ISN'T.

119. Pool table fabric: FELT.

120. Tempts: BAITS.

121. Yearned (for): PINED.

122. Flight nos.: ETAS.

123. Takes a load off: SITS.

124. "Thus ... ": AND SO.

Down:

1. Fantasy baddies: ORCS.

2. Impudent: PERT.

3. Tlaxcala water: AGUA.

4. Pop's __ Gaga: LADY.

5. Dig (at): SNIPE.

6. Toque: CHEF'S HAT. Dim sum chef wears this type of tall hat.

7. Paying strict attention: RAPT.

8. Comm. system with visual cues: ASL.

9. Beluga, e.g.: WHALE.

10. Gets feedback from an early audience: BETA TESTS.

11. Weapons thrown at targets, in some social settings: AXES.

12. Greek goddess of childbirth: HERA.

13. Beast of burden: ASS.

14. Seem (to be): APPEAR.

15. Rum cocktail: DAIQUIRI. Named after a Cuban iron mine, according to Wikipedia.

16. In __ of: LIEU.

17. Engrossed by: INTO.

18. Drop of sweat: BEAD.

24. Clump of hair: TUFT.

25. Defrost: THAW.

29. Word that may be replaced by a slash: PER.

31. NPR show hosted by Terry Gross: FRESH AIR. Used to listen to her faithfully at 8:00pm our time.

32. Open carriages: BUGGIES.

33. Lily-Rose __ of "The Idol": DEPP. Just had her last Sunday. 

34. Fantasy baddie: OGRE.

35. Determination: GRIT.

36. Location metadata: GEOTAG.

38. Skin care brand: OXY.

40. "Ew, stop sharing": TMI.

41. Steamed bite: BUN.

42. Abolitionist Harriet: TUBMAN.

43. Conditioning, as a bamboo cutting board: OILING.

44. Hägar's dog: SNERT.

46. Like some glasses: TRIFOCAL.

48. Path of __ resistance: LEAST.

52. Gp. concerned with crashes: IT TEAM. Hey, we have IT here. A few other short words also.

53. Swiss instrument traditionally made from red pine: ALPHORN. Ricola.

54. Pastel shade: BABY BLUE.

58. Ocean floor: SEABED.

61. "Raw" org.: WWE.

62. Puckered expression in a selfie: DUCK FACE.

63. Iga Swiatek's org.: WTA.

65. Conceptualize: IDEATE.

66. More on edge: TENSER.

67. __ awareness: SPATIAL.

68. Twistable cookies: OREOS.

69. Birds mummified in ancient Egypt: IBISES.

70. Madison Ave. industry: AD BIZ. 78. Bonus, in 70-Down lingo: XTRA.

76. Ensembles associated with Hillary Clinton: PANTSUITS.

79. "Bearded" flower: IRIS.

80. Marbled breads: RYES.

82. "Try to stop me now!": I'M ON FIRE.

84. Nickname that drops -ing: IRV.

85. French pronoun: TOI.

86. "TBH" kin: IMO. To be honest.

87. Actual expenditures: NET COSTS.

93. Gave a boost: GOOSED.

94. Film critic Reed: REX.

97. Rural tower: SILO.

101. Underwater ecosystems: REEFS.

103. "Mrs. America" Emmy winner Uzo: ADUBA.

104. Marina space: SLIP.

105. Centers: LOCI.

106. Currency also known as the renminbi: YUAN. Renmin = People. Bi = Currency.

107. Rock, in Rock, Paper, Scissors: FIST.

108. __ Mae Bullock: Tina Turner's birth name: ANNA. Did not know this.

109. Gaul or Breton: CELT.

110. Ocean Spray prefix: CRAN.

111. Base's chemical opposite: ACID.

112. Complete groups: SETS.

113. Provincial petrol provider: ESSO.

115. Old-timey "ugh": FIE.

116. Camping gear co-op: REI. Stands for Recreational Equipment, Inc.

C.C.

Sunday February 11, 2024 Chandi Deitmer & Matthew Stock

Theme: "Center of Attention" - HALFTIME SHOW is orderly added to each common phrase.

21. Growling or barking, e.g.?: DOG THREAT. Dog treat.

28. Existence fueled by rotini and tagliatelle?: PASTA LIFE. Past life.

30. Driveway mistake?: GRAVEL ERROR. Grave error.

43. "You're talking to a haunted house expert here"?: I KNOW FRIGHT.  I know, right?

47. Obnoxious poster in the r/wellsfargo Reddit?: BANK TROLL. Bank roll.

63. Rant against the sun?: DAY TIRADE. Day trade.

69. Providers of room service for musicians' tours?: BAND MAIDS. Band-aids.

81. Intense "don't blink" contests?: STARE WARS. Star Wars.

86. Opening dis at a roast?: FIRST SLIGHT. First light.

101. Erratic radiator?: FUSSY HEATER. Fussy eater.

103. Gigs as conductors and percussionists?: TEMPO JOBS. Temp jobs.

112. Casualwear at the pub?: BAR SWEATS. Bar seats.

Sure hope circles all show up in your paper. Otherwise, some solvers might have missed the extra layer in this theme.

As I mentioned last week, 12 entries in exact order is very demanding. You just can't move theme around or put some in the Down slots to ease the filling. Both both our constructors are pros.

Across:

1. Spot on a die: PIP.

4. Heel's opposite: FLAT. Shoe.

8. Relax: CHILL.

13. Broken bone's protector: CAST.

17. "You really think that of me?": AM I.

18. Take care of: SEE TO.

19. Casual layer: HOODIE.

20. "Barbie Girl" band: AQUA.

23. Overacted: EMOTED.

24. Hide furtively: LURK.

25. Rebel leader in a space opera: LEIA.

26. Iowa crop: CORN.

33. Thick lumps: GLOBS.

34. Smidgens: IOTAS.

35. Like the full-moon festival Boun That Luang: LAOTIAN. Boun = "Festival". That Luang ="Sacred Stupa",

38. Morsels: BITS.

41. Fig. calculated at a checkup: BMI. Body Mass Index. Also 61. Back muscle, casually: DELT. Stuff Andy is interested in. This used to be his bed room, he turned it into an exercise room during COVID. He now sleeps in my old room.

 

42. FYI kin: BTW.

51. Over yonder: THERE.

52. Soft ball: NERF.

54. German "no": NEIN.

55. Unit in many a Zillow listing: ACRE.

58. Food drive donations: CANS.

60. "Parenthood" actress Whitman: MAE. She plays one of the daughter in "When a Man Loves a Woman".

62. Not again: ONCE.

65. Target: GOAL.

66. SmackDown figures: WRESTLERS.

68. Ultra big: MEGA.

71. Street: ROAD. 40. Italian 71-Across: STRADA.

72. Pocket-size: MINI.

73. Ambulance fig.: EMT.

74. Fashion monthly: ELLE.

75. "__ move": YOUR.

76. Lucy of "Pretty Little Liars": HALE.

77. __ monster: GILA.

79. Boise State's home: IDAHO.

90. Menopause treatment, briefly: HRT. Hormone Replacement Therapy.

91. Little taste: SIP.

92. Himalayan creature: YETI. And 119. Himalayan creature: YAK.

93. Like ears with studs: PIERCED.

95. Crete's highest pt.: MT IDA.

97. Was out: SLEPT.

107. Suckling spot: TEAT.

108. "My mistake!": OOPS.

109. Surrounding energy: AURA.

110. Title girl in Kay Thompson books: ELOISE.

116. Climber's hold: CRAG.

117. Straightforward: CANDID.

118. Shrek and Fiona: OGRES.

120. Seep: OOZE.

121. Palms, e.g.: TREES.

122. Group between boomers and millennials: XERS. Born between 1965 and 1980.

123. Intel seeker: SPY.

Down:

1. __ see ew: stir-fried noodle dish: PAD. Lots of soy sauce.

 

2. "If u ask me ... ": IMO.

3. Jargon with terms ending in -ay: PIG LATIN.

4. Born to be wild: FERAL.

5. 2022 U.S. Women's Open golf champ Minjee: LEE. Australian golfer. Her parents are from Korea.

6. Going slowly: AT A CRAWL.

7. Forest spirit in a Miyazaki classic: TOTORO. From "My Neighbor Totoro".

8. Dot follower: COM.

9. __ skirt: HOOP.

10. Collar attachment: ID TAG.

11. Von Trapp daughter: LIESL.

12. Resulted in: LED TO.

13. Four-letter name of a radio station, e.g.: CALL SIGN.

14. Word heard in a Spanish class roll call: AQUI. Here.

15. Ride the waves: SURF.

16. Confiscate: TAKE.

18. Backs (away): SHIES.

19. Playwright Ibsen: HENRIK.

22. Brand of hiking sandals: TEVA. Hebrew for "nature".

27. Naan kin: ROTI.

29. Jacobson of "Broad City": ABBI.

30. The "Gee" in "Bee Gees": GIBB.

31. Tomato type: ROMA.

32. Pop icon John: ELTON.

36. Put into a pot: ANTE.

37. Japanese drama: NOH.

39. Epiphany trio: THE MAGI.

42. "The Vanishing Half" author Bennett: BRIT.

44. "Be ready to prove your age": WE CARD.

45. Comes apart at the seams: FRAYS.

46. Let out: RENT.

48. Massage: KNEAD.

49. "I have to know!": TELL ME.

50. Bowling alley lineup: LANES. Boomer never would had imagined that now I need my lane also.

53. ATM charge: FEE.

56. Loops in: CCS.

57. Back in style: RETRO.

59. Literary device: SIMILE.

61. "I need the truth!": DON'T LIE.

62. Tough go: ORDEAL.

63. Close ones: DEARS.

64. Subscribe again: RENEW.

65. Assign points to, maybe: GAMIFY. Not a word I use.

66. Untamed territory: WILDS.

67. "Mambo No. 5" singer Bega: LOU.

69. "I __ of you!": BEG.

70. Landed: ALIT.

72. Wawa, for one: MART. Never heard of Wawa Mart.

75. Expert who's a real poser?: YOGI. The yoga pose-r.

76. Intrepid: HARDY.

78. Culture writer's milieu: ARTS PAGE.

80. Way cool: HIP.

82. Play area?: THE STAGE. Fun clue.

83. "Following these directions ... ": AS IT SAYS.

84. Wheels: RIDE.

85. Shadowbox: SPAR.

87. Cylindrical storage structure: SILO.

88. Lifted: HEFTED.

89. Verifiable: TRUE.

94. Collection of farm-fresh produce: CSA BOX. CSA = Community Supported Agriculture.

95. Persian greetings?: MEOWS.

96. Adhesive strip: TAPE.

98. Throw out: EJECT.

99. Big name in seltzer: POLAR.

100. Rib eye alternative: T-BONE.

102. Takes to the cleaners: HOSES.

103. Folded food: TACO.

104. 100 cents: EURO.

105. "Lucky" Grammy winner Jason: MRAZ.

106. Tots, e.g.: SIDE.

111. Close fam member: SIS.

113. Film with the Oscar-winning song "Naatu Naatu": RRR. Gimme for me.

114. Recruit: TAP.

115. __ blue: SKY.

 

Carmen sent me more Spring Festival pictures. I love the flower markets in Guangzhou.

Carmen and Lao Pan

 

 

Good Luck Fruit

Go solve this themeless Modern crossword if you have some extra time. It's edited by Anna Gundlach.

 

Tom Pepper and I made today's big puzzle for the Universal. But I have no idea where to link. It's edited by Jeff Chen.

C.C.

Sunday January 21, 2024 Taylor Johnson & Chandi Deitmer

Theme: "Double Bill" - A musical is inserted into another musical.

23. *"This should be just right, my furry friends"?: AS YOU CATS LIKE IT. As You Like It.

32. *Peculiar pair at the office?: THE ODD COMPANY COUPLE. The Odd Couple.

53. *Things that make you go hmm ... ?: THE DOUBT PRODUCERS. The Producers.

69. *Salon pro who's a genius with AquaNet?: THE HAIRSPRAY WIZ. The Wiz.

92. *Lament from a Red Sox fan?: DAMN WICKED YANKEES. Damn Yankees.

109. *Eerie Midwestern downtown area?: A STRANGE CHICAGO LOOP. A Strange Loop.

Reveal:

123. Embedded narrative, and a description of the answer to each starred clue: PLAY WITHIN A PLAY.

I chuckled at the 92A clue and entry. Immediately thought of our LalaLinda, who's an avid Red Sox fan. 

Ideal Sunday grid. Great title. Great reveal. All the plays are all well-known.

Across:

1. Some small dogs: TOYS.

5. Musubi wrap: NORI. The Hawaiian Spam musubi. We also have 21. Russian crepes: BLINI. And 29. Indian flatbread: ROTI.

9. Intel research: RECON.

14. African capital where Akan is spoken: ACCRA. I did not know Akan, the largest ethnic group in Ghana.

19. "Scram!": SHOO.

20. Germ carrier?: BRAN. Also 100. Hill worker?: ANT. 106. Drink list?: BAR TAB. Fun clues.

22. Frasier's brother: NILES.

26. Liquid-Plumr rival: DRANO.

27. Origins: ROOTS.

28. Fair-hiring initials: EEO.

31. Color that is equal parts blue and green: CYAN.

38. Has motivation for: CARES TO.

40. Bout enders, briefly: TKOS.

41. "Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody" director Lemmons: KASI. Did not know her.

42. Dwarf planet named for a goddess of discord: ERIS.

43. MYOB part: OWN.

45. Dam on the Nile: ASWAN.

49. Escher museum site, with "The": HAGUE. M. C. Escher was Dutch.

52. Sleepy pal: DOC. The Dwarfs.

57. Tour guide's badge words: ASK ME.

59. Baby sheep: LAMB.

60. ABC News anchor David: MUIR.

61. Duds: TOGS.

62. Push back, in a way: RESIST.

64. Reef-dwelling Pixar character: NEMO.

67. "Be prepared" org.: BSA.

68. New prefix: NEO.

75. Butterfield of "Sex Education": ASA. British actor.

78. Work on a lawn: MOW.

79. Old-timey dagger: SNEE.

80. Breathe Right user, maybe: SNORER. Nasal strips.

84. Mete (out): DOLE.

86. Substandard: POOR.

88. Wager: RISK.

91. Many Vegas lights: NEONS.

97. 1981 cable debut: MTV. CNN debuted in 1980.

98. Teeny bit: SKOSH.

99. Skating legend Sonja: HENIE.

101. Permeate: SEEP.

102. "If the __ fits ... ": SHOE.

104. Wild guess: STAB.

107. Sneaky coward: DASTARD.

115. "Grease" actress Conn: DIDI.

116. Sand hill: DUNE.

117. "__ you for real?": ARE.

118. Hasbro game that requires quick reflexes: BOP IT.

121. Make up (for): ATONE.

128. Switchboard section: PANEL.

129. Out: PASSE.

130. Not pizzicato: ARCO. Did not know the meaning of pizzicato. From Wikipedia: "On bowed string instruments it is a method of playing by plucking the strings with the fingers, rather than using the bow. This produces a very different sound from bowing, short and percussive rather than sustained."

131. No. in a forecast: TEMP.

132. Lock: TRESS.

133. Word on a triangular sign: YIELD.

134. Exemptions for top seeds: BYES.

135. __ buco: OSSO.

Down:

1. Former Eurasian leader: TSAR.

2. Rather: OH SO.

3. Rock the baby, around the world, etc.: YO-YO TRICKS.

4. Comforts: SOOTHES.

5. "Night Court" TV network: NBC.

6. British pop singer Rita: ORA. Here with her husband Taika Waititi, the director of "Thor: Ragnarok".

7. Made the grade: RATED.

8. Bee or butterfly: INSECT.

9. Sac fly result: RBI.

10. Antlered ruminant: ELK.

11. Olds of old: CIERA.

12. Shallot kin: ONION.

13. __ Gritty Dirt Band: NITTY.

14. "Your point is?": AND.

15. Big top performance: CIRCUS ACT. And 16. Skeet target: CLAY PIGEON. We don't often a 10 & 9 pair in a themed grid.

17. Kidney-related: RENAL.

18. With a single voice: AS ONE.

24. Takes advantage of: USES.

25. Gander: LOOK.

30. "Eww!": ICK.

33. Short "And yet ... ": OTOH.

34. Woodworking connector: DOWEL.

35. Utah city near two national parks: MOAB.

36. Soft summons: PSST.

37. Lanikai Beach's island: OAHU.

38. Like some grilling planks: CEDAR. This cedar plank salmon looks yummy.

39. Got up: AROSE. And 71. Got up: AWOKE.

44. Confidentiality doc: NDA. Non-Disclosure Agreement.

46. Typist's meas.: WPM.

47. Curaçao neighbor: ARUBA.

48. Hard on the ears: NOISY.

50. Goad: URGE.

51. Canadian gas brand: ESSO.

53. "Intelligence for Your Life" host John: TESH.

54. Hilton competitor: OMNI.

55. Some airport rides: UBERS.

56. Attracts: DRAWS.

58. Charles River sch.: MIT.

63. Andante and adagio: TEMPI.

65. Hotmail provider: MSN.

66. La Scala performance: OPERA.

70. Flask filler: HOOCH.

72. Harness strap: REIN.

73. Homey lodgings: INNS.

74. "Big Little Lies" actress Kravitz: ZOE. Star-studded cast.

75. Throws in: ADDS.

76. Time in the tub: SOAK.

77. "Nearly finished!": ALMOST DONE. And 81. Orchard fruit originally from Ohio: ROME APPLES. So many nice fill in this grid.

82. "Come on in!": ENTER.

83. Answered an invite: RSVP'D.

85. Puts in a Hall of Fame, say: ENSHRINES.

87. Kylo of the "Star Wars" sequels: REN.

89. Jamaican genre: SKA.

90. Sport with bamboo swords: KENDO.

93. "Hold it, horses!": WHOA.

94. Share hot goss: DISH. Hot gossip.

95. Himalayan recluse: YETI.

96. Citation abbr.: ET AL.

101. Degrade oneself by: STOOP TO.

103. Word with year or rear: END.

105. South American palm: ACAI.

108. Asian noodle: SOBA. I prefer it cold.

109. Get used (to): ADAPT.

110. Instrument in Hindi cinema: SITAR.

111. Pet in a tank: GUPPY.

112. Zhou who hosted Nixon: ENLAI.

113. Stop: CEASE.

114. Walt Disney Concert Hall architect Frank: GEHRY.

119. Alpo rival: IAMS.

120. Tit for tat, e.g.: TYPO.

122. Some city trains: ELS.

124. Luxury bag monogram: YSL.

125. Tied the knot: WED.

126. Broomball surface: ICE.

127. Denials: NOS.

 

A few extra notes: 

1) Happy 76th birthday to Madame DeFarge (Janice), who used to comment on our blog regularly. We miss you, Janice! 

 

From L To R: Abejo, WikWak and Madame DeFarge

 

 

2) Happy birthday to sumdaze, our creative Monday Sherpa. Who else can ride 65 miles in one day?  I'm so lucky to have you in my life, Renee! Feel better soon!

3) Happy 16th birthday to our blog! Thank you so much for visiting and commenting.

4) Have a go at this "Farm Girls" puzzle I made for Atlas Obscura last Monday. I wish someone would blog about their puzzles. 

5) My left arm still has slight twinge. I pull wide on that side and often do not pull through, but I'm so happy to be back to the pool again. I don't over-rotate anymore and my bilateral breathing continues to be good. Now I need to focus on kicking harder with my right leg. So odd since I'm right-handed. You'd think I have a dominant right leg also. 

 

 C.C.